On Nov. 6, Americans of all colors, creeds, religions (or non-religion, if that’s your thing) and political leanings will take to the polls, at least a small percentage of them, that is. Sad, isn’t it, that so many either refuse to vote or can’t be bothered with the next four years of our country’s leadership? Yet nearly everyone, or so it seems, likes to snivel, whine, moan and yammer once the results are in, particularly if their guy (or gal) doesn’t win.
My take? One has no right to complain if they refrain from voting, and for those who’ll willingly go on record saying “it doesn’t do any good” or “what difference does it make,” well ... let’s just say that is certainly your right as an American – not to vote – yet your credibility is, for better or worse, going to be called into question.
How can I possibly know that, you ask? Because I used to be one of those people, as hard as I find that to believe in hindsight. In fact, Election Day 2012 will mark only the third time I’ve voted for a commander in chief, although I hate to admit it.
Actually, I take that back. My first foray into the political ring took place way back in 1980 (I think), when I begged my parents – and a small group of their friends – to vote for ZZ Top for president. And no, I’m not joking. When I was all of three (or maybe four) years old, MTV (or perhaps it was Saturday Night Live) held its very own presidential election, pitting Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard versus Republican nominee Ronald Reagan.
Needless to say, ZZ Top won in a landslide, if I remember correctly. To say I was dispirited when told it wasn’t the real election is – as they say – an understatement.
Seriously, though, my first trip to the voting booth was in 2004, following the absolute debacle that was the 2000 presidential election (you know, when the other guy actually won). I suppose I’d finally grasped the importance of casting my vote, and – at the time – was firmly convinced another four years of George W. Bush would simply lead to more casualties thanks to more money spent on what I considered (and still consider) immoral wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I voted again in 2008 (yes, for Hope and Change) and I will vote again in less than two weeks.
And yes, I truly feel it’s every American’s personal duty to get out and vote, it simply took me awhile to grow up and realize it.
